GB2354790A

GB2354790A - Support for temporary platform

Info

Publication number: GB2354790A
Application number: GB9920356A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Ernest Allen; Ernest William Allen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-08-28
Filing date: 1999-08-28
Publication date: 2001-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 2019-08-28
Also published as: GB9920356D0; GB2354790B

Abstract

The support 18 has an adjustable elongate portion 32,34 that extends between a base portion 22 and a u-shaped channel section 36 which is designed to receive a scaffold pole 38. The base section is formed so as to fit over a joist 20 to enable a platform 42,44 to be formed over the chamber joists of a building, or alternatively may be designed to sit on a flat surface. In use, scaffold poles are secured between a number of supports and used to support a platform primarily for use as a safety platform to break the fall of a worker from an upper floor.

Description

2354790 A SUPPORT FOR A SCAFFOLDING PLATFORM

Field of the Invention

S The invention relates in general to a support for a temporary safety platform and especially, but not limited to, a support for a safety scaffolding platform.

Background to the Invention

Anyone working at an elevation above ground level risks serious injury should they fall. one particular example applies in the construction and maintenance of buildings where workers operate on upper floors of the building or at roof level. It has long been desired to reduce the maximum distance that a worker may fall, by providing an obstacle between their workplace and ground level. Suitably, this obstacle takes the form of temporary wooden sheeting laid over the suitable parts of the building, typically the joists separating one floor level from the next. However, even though such a temporary flooring reduces the potential height that a worker may fall, the distance is still relatively large and it is desired to further reduce that potential height.

It is also known to provide a raised temporary safety platform by erecting trestles on the first layer of wooden sheeting above the chamber joists, and then to cover the trestles with a second layer of wooden sheeting. However, this raised platform takes considerable time to deploy and requires two layers of wooden sheeting which increases costs. Another known solution is to employ an inflatable platform that can be placed directly on the chamber 2 joists, but such inflatable platforms are expensive and suffer poor reliability due to punctures.

It is an aim of the present invention to overcome at least one problem associated with the prior art whether referred to herein or otherwise.

Sunmary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a support for use within a building construction, the support comprising engagement means adapted to engage a building construction, and support means for supporting at least part of a safety platform in a spaced apart relation from the building member.

Preferably, the support comprises a generally elongate support member. Preferably the length of the support member is adjustable. Preferably, the support member is telescopic.

The engagement means may take any suitable form. In one embodiment the engagement means is adapted to rest on a level surface such as provided by ground level, or a floor such as a concrete floor. Preferably, the engagement means comprises a base member. In another embodiment the engagement means is adapted for engagement with a joist, ideally a chamber joist. The engagement means is preferably adjustable to enable the support to be secured to joists of differing dimensions. The engagement means may comprise two plates spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the width of a joist. The distance between the two plates may be adjustable. The engagement 3 means may comprise a securement member arranged to inhibit inadvertent removal of the support from the joist. The engagement means may comprise a channel portion arranged to receive a joist. The width of the channel portion may be adjusted. The depth of the channel portion may be adjusted.

Preferably, the support is locatable in use such that the elongate member extends upwardly from the building construction, such as a joist or level surface, and ideally substantially vertically upwards.

Preferably the support comprises receiving means for receiving at least a part of an elongate member and preferably at least a part of a scaffolding pole. The receiving means may comprise a bracket, preferably a generally U-shaped bracket. Preferably the receiving means comprises means for inhibiting inadvertent removal of the elongate member. Preferably the receiving means is coupled to the support member at one end thereof, and the engagement means provided at an opposing end of the support member. Ideally, the receiving means is rotatably coupled to the support member, preferably being rotatable about an axis of rotation aligned with a longitudinal axis of the support member.

In one embodiment, the receiving means is arranged to support two elongate members suitably arranged in use in a generally horizontal plane perpendicular to the support, and in another embodiment is arranged to support up to four elongate members. The receiving means may comprise means for securing the or each elongate member within the 4 bracket. The or each elongate member may be secured in,the receiving means by a clip.

Also according to a first aspect of the present s invention there is provided a support for use in a building construction, the support comprising an elongate support member having at one end thereof a receiving means for receiving at least part of a safety platform, and engagement means at the other end thereof adapted to engage a building member, such that in use the safety platform is supported in a spaced apart relation from the building member.

Preferably, the receiving means is rotatably coupled to the support member. Preferably the receiving means comprises a generally U-shaped bracket adapted to receive at least one scaffolding pole. The scaffolding pole is then used as part of a safety platform. The receiving means is optionally adapted to receive up to two or, alternatively, up to four scaffolding poles simultaneously. Preferably, the scaffolding poles are received substantially perpendicular to the support member.

The engagement means may be adapted to rest against a level support surface, suitably a ground level, or optionally an upper floor level of a building construction. Ideally the engagement means rests in use against a reinforced concrete beam of the building construction. In another embodiment the engagement means is adapted for engagement with a chamber joist of generally rectangular cross-section.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a safety platform for use in a building construction, the safety platform being supported by at least one support in accordance with the first aspect of 5 the present invention.

Preferably the safety platform is supported by a plurality of supports in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

Preferably the or each support supports at least a part of an elongate member and preferably supports at least a part of a scaffolding pole. Preferably the or each elongate member supports at least a part of a further elongate member and preferably at least a part of a scaffolding plank. Preferably the or each scaffolding plank supports at least a part of a sheet and preferably a part of a wooden sheet.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of erecting a safety platform within a building construction, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one elongate support member having one end thereof adjacent a joist of the building construction and the other end thereof arranged in an upwardly spaced apart relation from the joist, and providing a platform member supported by the elongate support member.

Preferably, the method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of the elongate support members each adapted to locate adjacent a chamber joist at one end thereof, and supporting one or more elongate platform members at the other end thereof in a vertically spaced 6 apart relation above the joists. Preferably, at least one of the platform members comprises a scaffolding plank. Suitably the method further comprises the step of laying a sheeting member over the platform members. Ideally the platform members and the sheeting members together form a temporary safety platform structure suitable for inhibiting the fall of a worker from above.

Brief Description of the Drawings 10

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings that follow, in which; Figure 1 is a cross section of an incomplete house during construction; Figure 2 is a front view of a first embodiment of a support secured to a chamber joist; Figure 3 is a side view of the f irst embodiment of a support connected to a chamber joist; Figure 4 is a f ront view of a second embodiment of a 25 support secured to a chamber joist; Figure 5 is a side view of the second embodiment of the support secured to a chamber joist; Figure 6 is a side view of a part of the second embodiment of a support; 7 Figure 7 is a perspective view of a part of the second embodiment of a support; Figure 8 is a side view of a safety platform supported 5 by supports secured to chamber joists; Figure 9 is a side view of a part of a support; Figure 10 is a front view of a part of a support; Figure 11 is a side view of a part of a support; Figure 12 is a plan view of scaffolding poles supported by a support; Figure 13 is a side view of another embodiment of a support; Figure 14 is a plan view of the support of Figure 12; and Figure 15 is a side view of part of another preferred support.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

As shown in Figure 1, supports 18 of the preferred embodiment are each secured to a chamber joist 16 of a building 12 such as a house. The supports 18 suitably extend vertically upwards from the chamber joists 16. The upper ends of the supports 18 support a platform 20. The platform 20 reduces the potential height that workers may 8 fall whilst working on the building, such as when working on the roof 14.

Advantageously, the supports 18 are coupled directly to the chamber joists 16, such that only one covering of wooden sheets (or similar sheet material) is required to construct the platform 20.

A first preferred embodiment of a support 18 is shown in Figures 2 and 3. The support 18 is provided at one end thereof with securement means for securing the support 18 to a suitable part of the building, in this example being a chamber joist 20. The chamber joists are suitably elongate beam members of generally rectangular cross- section supported by walls of the building usually at either end thereof, to form a horizontal division between one floor level of the building and the next. The securement means comprises a channel portion having two side plates 22, 24 and an upper plate 26. The channel portion defines a mouth between the side plates 22, 24 which allows the channel portion to be placed over a chamber joist 20. The upper face of the chamber joist 20 abuts and supports the upper plate 26 of the channel portion. In addition, the sides of the chamber joist 20 co-operate with the side plates 22, 24 of the channel portion.

The side plates 22, 24 are longer than the sides of the chamber joist 20. Each side plate 22, 24 has an aperture defined therein at a position below the bottom of the chamber joist 20. A locking pin 28 may be inserted through the apertures defined in the side plates 22, 24. The pin 28 prevents the support 18 from being removed from 9 the chamber joist 20. The pin also prevents the support 18 from pivoting on the chamber joist 20.

The support 18 suitably comprises an elongate support s member, in this case formed form an outer sleeve 32 which projects upwardly from the upper plate 26 and an inner sleeve 34 arranged to be adjustable telescopically within the outer sleeve 32. Suitably, the sleeve 32 and 34 are retained at a desired height by one or more locating pins therethrough, although any convenient system may be employed.

The inner sleeve 34 is coupled at one end to a U shaped channel section 36, which is adapted to receive a scaffolding pole 38. Accordingly, two supports 18 may be secured spaced apart along a chamber joist and support a scaffolding pole 38 therebetween.

The upper edges of the channel portion 36 have apertures defined therein. Once a scaffolding pole 38 is supported in the channel section a pin 40 can be inserted through the apertures to prevent the removal of the scaffolding pole 38 from the channel portion 36.

The scaffolding pole 38 suitably supportsplanks 42 and a number of planks can be supported on a matrix or grid of scaffolding poles secured within a number of supports. Finally, sheets of wood 44 can be supported on the planks 42 to create a platform surface 20. The platform surface is ideally continuous throughout the inside of the house 12. The surface thereby provides a flexible platform which can break the fall of a worker. This method only requires an area of sheets of wood to cover the area of the inside of the house once. There is, therefore, a significant reduction in the materials required to construct a safety platform over prior art methods.

A second embodiment of a support 50 is shown in Figure 4, 5, 6 and 7. The second embodiment of the support has a channel portion which is adjustable to enable the support 50 to be secured to chamber joists having different sized cross sections. Again, the channel portion has two side plates 52, 54 which are spaced apart by a distance substantially the same as the width of a chamber joist 56. The support SO has an extending member 58 which projects vertically upwardly from the channel portion. The length of the extending member may be adjustable. The extending member 58 has a receiving portion 60 located at its upper end. The receiving portion 60 is arranged to support a scaffolding pole 62.

The adjustable channel portion of the support 50 is shown in greater detail in Figures 6 and 7. The f irst side member S2 of the channel portion comprises a side plate 51 providing one side of the channel portion and an upper extending plate section 53 orientated perpendicularly to the side at an upper end. There is an aperture 64 def ined on the upper extending plate section 53 of the first side member S2. The aperture 64 acts as a slot in which the upper extending member 58 may slide.

The second side member 54 also has a side plate 55 with an upper plate section 57 perpendicularly extending from an upper position of the side plate 55. The extending member 58 of the support 50 is secured to the 11 upper plate section 57 of the second side plate 54. The perpendicularly extending upper plate section 57 thereby rests on the upper surface of the chamber joist 56 and the side portion extends down one side of the chamber joist 56.

The second side plate 54 has two upwardly extending lugs 68, 70 secured thereto. The lugs 68, 70 are arranged to be engaged in apertures 72 defined in the upper extending plate section 53 of the first side member 52. The upper extending plate section 53 of the first side member 52 has three sets of two apertures 72 located thereon. Each set of two apertures 72 is arranged to engage the lugs 68, 70 and to thereby space the first side member 52 from the second side member 54 by a predetermined distance. This enables the support 50 to be attached to chamber joists 56 of different widths.

once the second side member 52 has been placed on the chamber joist 56 and the first side member 54 has been arranged such that the lugs 68, 70 are located with the correct set of apertures 72 then the support 50 is secured to the chamber joist 56 by a bolt 73. The shaf t of the bolt 73 passes through a f irst slot 76 defined in the first side plate 52 and a second slot 78 defined in the second side plate 54.

The bolt 73 has two sets of projections 80 which extend perpendicularly from the shaft of the bolt 73. The projections 80 are arranged to be supported on flanges 82. Three flanges 82 are provided to enable the bolt to be secured at three different levels in order for the support to be secured to chamber joists of different heights. The shaft also has two sets of projections 80 to enable the bolt to secure the support to chamber joists of different widths. Once the projections 80 are supported on the flanges 82 the nut 74 is tightened to secure the support 5 50 to the chamber joist 56. The shaft of the bolt 73 thereby prevents the support 50 from being removed from the chamber joist 56. A safety platform raised above the chamber joists 90 using supports 92 is shown in Figure 8.

Two supports 92 are secured to two separate chamber joists 90. The two supports 92 are separated by three further chamber joists 90. Further supports (not shown) are secured on the same chamber joist 90 but are spaced from the support 92 along the same chamber joists 90. The supports 92 support a scaffolding pole 94 therebetween. In addition, the supports located on the same chamber joists support further scaffolding poles therebetween.

Therefore, a matrix or grid of scaffolding poles is formed in this manner.

Scaffolding planks 96 are supported on the scaffolding poles 94. Finally, sheets of wood (for example, sheets of plywood) are then supported on the scaffolding planks 96. The sheets of wood may be temporarily secured to the scaffolding planks 96, for example using tack nails.

The safety platform may be used at any desired stage during construction of the building, for example before the external walls have been finished or are not higher than the chamber joists of the first floor. The platform may have a brick guard 98 located about its periphery.

13 This brick guard 98 prevents a person working on the external scaffolding 100 from falling in to the house. The brick guard 98 also prevents any bricks falling into the house whilst the walls are being built The brick guard 98 is suitably a section of wire mesh. Furthermore, a timber strap 102 may be supported on the chamber joists 90. The timber strap 102 secures the chamber joists 90 in position whilst the external walls are being built.

The receiving means for supporting the scaffolding pole on the upper ends of the support may be arranged to support 1, 2 or 4 scaffolding poles. The receiving means for supporting a single scaffolding pole comprises a Ushaped bracket. Receiving means may be provided for supporting two parallel scaffolding poles 104. Such receiving means may comprise two U-shaped brackets projecting from either side of the upper end of the support. Finally, receiving means may be provided for supporting up to four scaffolding poles which are grouped into two pairs of scaffolding poles in which one pair extends perpendicularly to the other pair as shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11. Such receiving means comprises two U-shaped brackets 106 projecting from either side of the upper end of the support and a further two U shaped brackets 108 located above the first two brackets which are positioned at 900. to the lower brackets. In use, the lower brackets 106 support scaffolding poles which may support a brick guard. The upper brackets 108 may support scaffolding planks which support sheets of wood.

A clip 110 may be provided at the upper end of the support 92 to prevent the scaffolding pole 104 or scaffolding poles 104 from being removed from the support 14 means. The clip 110 may comprise a surface which is contoured to substantially the same shape as the upper surface of the scaffolding poles and the brackets and which has a resilent clip portion 114. The clip 110 is 5 secured to a pivot 116 to the bracket 118 at one end and the resilient portion 114 is located at the opposite end. The clip 110 is rotated about the pivot 116 and moves from an open position 110 to a closed position as depicted by the clip in position 112. In the closed position 112, the resilient portion 114 is moved over the lip of the bracket 118 and the clip 110 is maintained in this position.

Referring now to Figures 13 and 14 another embodiment of the support is shown. Here the support 18 comprises a base 120 adapted to rest on any suitable level surface such as ground level. Preferably the base 120 is substantially triangular defining feet portions 121 at the three corners thereof. Advantageously, this embodiment can be used at floor level whilst the building is in the early stages of construction. Also, this embodiment can be used to rest against a completed or substantially completed floor level which is particularly useful in a building constructed from reinforced concrete beams supporting floor blocks therebetween.

Figure 15 shows a further preferred embodiment of the support wherein the receiving means 36 is rotatably coupled to the inner pole 34. Suitably the receiving means 36 comprises a plug section adapted to fit within the inside diameter of the inner pole 34, and a flange portion arranged to rest in use against the end of the inner pole 34. However, any suitable rotatable construction may be employed.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and s which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

16

Claims

1. A support for use within a building construction, the support comprising engagement means adapted to engage a building construction, and support means for supporting at least part of a safety platform in a spaced apart relation from the building member.

2. A support in accordance with claim 1, wherein the 10 support comprises a generally elongate support member.

3. A support according to claim 2, in which the length of the support member is adjustable.

4. A support according to any preceding claims in which the engagement means is adapted to rest on a level surface such as provided by ground level, or a floor such as a concrete floor.

S. A support according to claim 4 in which the engagement means comprises a base member.

6. A support according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the engagement means is adapted for engagement with a 25 joist.

7. A support according to claim 6 in which the engagement is adjustable to enable the support to be secured to joists of differing dimensions.

8. A support according to claim 6 or claim 7 in which the engagement means comprises a securement member arranged to inhibit inadvertent removal of the support from the joist.

17 9. A support according to any preceding claim in which the support is locatable in use such that the elongate member extends upwardly from the building construction, such as a joist or level surface.

10. A support according to any preceding claim in which the support comprises receiving means for receiving at least a part of an elongate member.

11. A support according to claim 10 in which the support comprises receiving means for receiving at least a part of a scaffolding pole.

12. A support according to claim 10 or claim 11 in which the receiving means comprises means for inhibiting inadvertent removal of the elongate member.

13. A support according to any of claims 10 to 12 in which the receiving means is coupled to the support member at one end thereof, and the engagement means provided at an opposing end of the support member.

14. A support acco-rding to any of claims 10 to 13 in which the receiving means is rotatably coupled to the support member.

15. A support according to any of claims 10 to 14 in which the receiving means is arranged to support two elongate members.

16. A support according to claim 15 in which the receiving means is arranged to support up to four elongate members.

18 17. A support substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A safety platform for use in a building construction, the safety platform being supported by at least one support in accordance with any of claims 1 to 17.

19. A safety platform in accordance with claim 18 in which the safety platform is supported by a plurality of supports according to any of claims 1 to 17.

20. A safety platform according to claim 18 or claim 19 in which the or each support supports at least a part of an elongate member.

21. A safety platform accordinq to claim 20 in which the or each elongate member supports at least a part of a further elongate member.

22. A safety platform according to claim 21 in which the or each elongate member supports at least a part of a scaffolding plank.

23. A safety platform according to claim 22 in which the or each scaffolding plank supports at least a part of a sheet.

24. A safety platform according to claim 23 in which the or each scaffolding plank supports at least a part of a wooden sheet.

25. A. safety platform as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19 26. A method of erecting a safety platform within a building construction, comprising the steps of: providing at least one elongate support member having one end thereof adjacent a joist of the building construction and the other end thereof arranged in an upwardly spaced apart relation from the joist, and providing a platform member supported by the elongate support member.

27. A method according to claim 26 comprising the steps of providing a plurality of the elongate support members each adapted to locate adjacent a chamber joist at one end thereof, and supporting one or more elongate platform members at the other end thereof in a vertically spaced apart relation above the joists.

28. A method according to claim 26 or claim 27 in which at least one of the platform members comprises a scaffolding plank.

29. A method according to any of claims 26 to 28 comprising the step of laying a sheeting member over the platform members. 30. A method according to claim 29 in which the platform Iasi:, 25 members and the sheeting membexs together form a temporary safety platform structure suitable for inhibiting the fali of a worker from above.

31. A method of erecting a safety platform within a building construction as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.